The $300,000 Group 3 Geelong Cup at 4pm AEDT is the highlight of the Geelong Racing Calendar, and today’s edition of the race looks a wide-open affair with plenty of chances among the field of 13. Join us here on The Roar from 3:40pm (AEST) for live commentary, results and reaction.
This is an important lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup being just 13 days before the first Tuesday in November.
Three previous Geelong Cup winners – Dunaden, Americain and Media Puzzle – have completed the double, winning the Melbourne Cup as well.
If Setorius brings his Makybe Diva Stakes form he will be hard to beat. He’s drawn wide but Ryan Maloney will have him featuring heavily in the finish. He should be quite forward on the run so will be among the chances.
Shoreham looks ready to boom and has really warmed up as the spring has progressed. Will have plenty interested after his run in the Turnbull and his fourth-up record is quite good. Will come home late in the run but if he is on his game he could cause a boil over.
Wish Come True has some okay form, and trainer Peter Moody wouldn’t be starting him in this race if he didn’t think he was capable. I’ve put a line through his Metropolitan run as he just didn’t get into the race as he normally does.
Zanbagh is a talented runner who was trained by the late Guy Walter but is now with Patrick Payne. The words on her have been quiet which is astonishing considering her talent. Her runs this prep however haven’t been all that impressive but in her last campaign she ran second in the ATC Oaks, beaten a length. Rising Romance beat her that day and Lucia Valentina ran third, so the quality is there.
More Than Sacred ran a massive Cranbourne Cup on a track that more than likely didn’t suit at all. Should be more comfortable in this and will look to come home with pace late. Coming from New Zealand, her form reads well running third in an Auckland Cup (3200m) only beaten three lengths by Whoshotthebarman.
Like a Carousel had a nice run at Sandown last-start, where the runner-up has come out of it and won. Loves Geelong and no questions about the distance, only problem is the awkward draw.
The other runners in the race are Correggio, Ominous, Ali Vital, Pretty Blonde and Waltzing to Win. Apart from Ali Vital, I can’t tip or push the others in this one based on their quality and form.
In a race where as many as five can win, I’m going to take the talented Zanbagh on top.
Brent Ford tips
1.Zanbagh
2. More Than Sacred
3. Wish Come True
4. Caravan Rolls On
Harry
Guest
Yeah if Bande only gets 0.5kg for a Caulfield Cup win then I feel sorry for the connections as it just won't happen!
Scuba
Guest
Surely couldn't get more than 1 for beating that field aided by a peach of a ride from Williams, in which case he still needs a few dropouts to make it. Will eat 2 miles, but for mine a horse that could run 8-10 in a Melbourne Cup but not top 5.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
That's all from me I'll be back under the bright lights of Moonee Valley for the Manikato Stakes, and don't forget to pop back in here on Saturday as Sam Kelly runs us through the Cox Plate. It should be a belter I hope you can join us here on The Roar.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
So the final result was 1. Caravan Rolls On 2. Marksmanship 3. Like a Carousel 4. More Than Sacred I really hope the connections get the penalty they want because Caravan Rolls On will improve for the Melbourne Cup for sure.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Was currently sitting 43rd in the order, will cop a penalty that will help the order of entry. So I'd keep an eye out to see how much it's penalised.
Jason Cave
Guest
Where is Caravan Rolls On in the Emirates Melbourne Cup Order of Entry, and would the horse run on Cup Day? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
So the penalty is critical here, I think we're looking at 1.5kgs which the connections are hopeful for. It's not the quality of an Admire Rakti but the weight and the fact this horse will improve could prove a big factor in the Melbourne Cup calculations.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Craig Williams: I think it's important if something doesn't go right you need to know what the horse does and doesn't like and when he came into the yard today he was a racehorse today. I was told he liked firm ground and it was something I kept in my mind. He runs two miles this is a great lead up race, he will be a big chance. The Cup carnival is amazing and to bring everyone from around the world it shows how proud we should be of something like this. He has to improve to be in Dunaden's class. It's going to be an interesting race but he runs two miles so we'll see how it goes.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Danny O'Brien: It was a hell of a ride and it needed to be as his last start at Sandown was horrible.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Danny O'Brien: We had to keep him fresh for the 2400m but over the 2 miles he will improve a couple of lengths on what he showed today. He's also hopeful of getting the penalty that will see him move up the Melbourne Cup order.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Once again the run on the fence wins it!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Ominous has broken down! But it's Correggio at the turn but he's run down. More Than Sacred looks well but it's Caravan Rolls On which gets up on the fence and Williams will win it, Marksmanship is second from Like a Carousel and Zanbagh finished well back and was disappointing.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Sertorius trying to push through and will go two wide to go to second. But Ominous leads from Sertorius and Marksmanship in third and Caravan Rolls On. Correggio puts the pace on and takes the lead. That's shaken up the field with about 1000 to go. Walzing to Win has also moved into third.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
We're off in the Geelong Cup! Ali Vital and Marksmanship showing good speed and Ominous trying to go to the front and Zanbagh will also go to third.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Runners going in now and Sertorius will start favourite here as More Than Sacred Drifts.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Warm conditions and Like a Carousel getting a toweling down by Newitt behind the barriers.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Just looking at the market we have More Than Sacred the favourite at $5.50 sharing it with Sertorius with Shoreham the $6.50 hope and Zanbagh at $7. So some good value then Markmanship and Caravan Rolls On, Like a Carousel $9, then Wish Come True $13. Ali Vital $31 then write a ticket for the rest!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Pretty Blonde I'll disregard.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Caravan Rolls On another good chance, the form is the key here, coat looks shiny here not as dry as last start which is a good sign. Correggio at a big price but I can see him being out classed here. Ominous had two poor starts and can't have in this one, showed bright signs early but faded late. Ali Vital my only rough hope in this but it's a tough test with these ones.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Like a Carousel another quality runner, had a month between runs for today, calm and looks as cool as a cucumber. Marksmanship was good in the Bart Cummings is a tough stayer and has drifted plenty, started at $5's got out to $13's but back into $10's.